Sound-recording apparatus



Dec. 14 1926. 1,611,065

J. O. PRESCOTT soUND RECORDING APPARATUS Filed sept. 1:5 1922 [Wi/emv: John 0.P6feseoi SIWMM Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

JonN o. rnnsco'r'r, or' eLnNsIDE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Application inea september 13.1922. serial No. 588,049.

- My invention relates to sound recording v apparatus and is'. particularly concerned with the mechanism for causing the relative motion between the record tablet andthe stylus. v v

My invention has among its-objects the provision of effective means for causing the relative motion without vibration but will be best understood from the following description when read in the light of the accompanyinof drawings of one specific embodiment of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, while the scope of my invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In 'the drawings: Fig. 1 shows more' or less diagrammatically one form ofsound recording apparatus constructed according to my invention; and

Fig. 2 shows a detail. y In the drawings, which show the embodi :ment of my invention which I have selected for illustration, the record tablet 1 is of the disk type while the record tablet support is exemplified by the turntable 3 on which the record tablet is mounted. The stylus 5 for cutting the record'groove is carried by the diaphragm mechanism 7, the latter 'being mounted on an arm 9, which is carried at the end of a rod 11, the latter being rigidly secured adjacent opposite ends in a stationary support 13 resting on a table or the like 15.

The turntable is supported on a spindle 17,

, radial distance between adjacent convolutions of the groove, being determined by the rate of lateral movement of the turntable relative to its speed of rotation.'

For rotating the turntable the periphery thereof is shown as provided with a V-shaped groove 21, around which passes a belt 23 driven by the beltpulley 25 carried on the` shaft 2T driven by any suitable motor. For

. causing the belt to be always under tension and to permit bodily movement of the turntable, onel side of the belt 23 is shown as passing over a pair of idlers to forma loop 31 at the bottom of which is suspended the weight 33 by means of a pulley 35,

, For givingv the turntable its bodily movement the frame 19 as illustrated has attached lthereto at one end the cord or other ligature 37 which is arranged horizontally and passes over a pulley 39, being at its oppositev end attached to 'the upper end of a plunger rod 41. At its lower end the plunger rod carries a plungerv composed of cylindrical weights 43, the peripheries of which lit the interior of the vertically arranged cylinder 45. lVhen the plunger descends in the cylinder it causes the turntable to move bodily toward the right as viewed in the drawing and as the turntable at this time is rotating the stylus cuts a spiral 'groove in the record tablet.

For regulating the descent of the plunger the cylinder is partially filled with a liquid such as water, oil or mercury, or if desired may contain nothing but air. Further, the opposite end portions of the cylinder are connected by means of the by-pass pipe 47, said pipe having the regulating valve 49 and a second valve 51, the latter preferably being between the valve 49 and the discharge end of the pipe and having an operating handle 52. Associated with the valve 49 is a handle 53 and a suitable graduated scale shown diagrammatically at 55, the scale preferably being calibrated in minutes. In practice the handles 52 and 53 will be so disposed as to be in convenient reach of the operator who stands close tothe recording stylus.

The descent of the plunger 43 and consequently the travel of the record tablet is mainly dependent upon the weight of the plunger, the character of the fluid filling the vcylinder and the opening of the valve 49.

57 is set in such position that the stylus will travel a slight distance after the sound recording portion of the record is cut. In practice. when the 'sound to vbe recorded ceases, thev valve 49 is immediately moved by the operator to a wider open position sufficient to cause the plunger to descend rapidly' until the collarV contacts the upper surface 61 of the boss 63 formed centrally of the work to increase the pitch of the record groove as the groove progresses toward the center of a' disk record. This result may be secured in my apparatus when liquid is em'- ployed in connection with the cylinder and plunger. Referring to the drawings, which vshow the apparatus arranged for securing this result, it will be noted -that the level of the liquid in the c vlinder when the plunger is in the initial position is such as to provide an air space above said liquid vented to the atmosphere. Assuming there were no liquid above the piston the resistance to be overcome bythe piston in its descent would be the frictional resistance of the liquid against the walls of the cylinder and pipe 47, the resistance to flow offered by the valve 49, and the head of the liquid measured from the bottom face of the piston to the top of'- the pipe 47. Under these conditions as the piston would descend this head would increase, that is to say if the piston descended say one foot, thehead would correspondingly increase one foot. However in the actual arrangement'of the apparatus, byl returning to the cylinder space above the piston all the liquid displaced by .the descent of the piston the increase of head just mentioned is compensated for, or in other words the effective static head'to be overcome by the piston is constant. Because all the liquid displaced below the piston is returned to the cylinder space above .the piston the level of.

th liquid above the piston is constant, and' therefore-the effective static head is that measured from this level to the top of the pipe 47 minus the head corresponding to the vertical length of the piston, which yis a constant. The effective force acting tov move the piston is its weight minus the sumof cover is perforated to receive the plunger rod 41 and the walls of said perforation are enlarged as shown at 67 to cause the plunger to contact the rod only at the upper portion y of the boss and 'at the` lower side of the cover, the edges 68 of the material contacting the plunger rod being rounded to reduce friction and vibration.

The plunger, which as heretofore described is composed of weights 43, may be varied in weight by increasing or dimilp ishing the number of weights making up the plunger, and by employing weights of different thickness, access to thecylinder for this purpose being readily attained by removing the cover 43.- In' practice, each weight is provided with a perforation 69,l which when the weights are assembled to form the plunger, are placed in alignment so as to provide a passage extending from the upper to the lower surface of the plunger. rlhe lower weight carries at itslowermost surface a Hap valve 7l which in conjunction with the passage 69 permits the plunger to be readily raised from its lowermost toits uppermost portion. Preferably the flap valve is so constructed that it will immediately close on the' initiation of descent of the plunger, and if desired any suitable means may be provided for insuring thatithe weights lwill be held in such relative position that the perforations 69 will be in alignment. y.

For permitting the descent of the plunger to'be uninfluenced by theformation of a partial vacuum above the liquid, the upper portion of the'cylinder may be in permanent communication with the atmosphere and for this purpose I have shown thev breather pipe 73 carriedby the cover 65 of the cylinder.

The operation of my device will be apparent from the foregoing description... Briey, however, with the4 parts in the po. sition shown by the drawing if it is desired to cut a record the operator will first set the handle 53 to that position on the scale 55 which indicates a time slightly in excess of the duration of the sound to be recorded and the just mentioned effective statichead anol"\then to start the apparatus -the. valve` 51 is -and the valve 49. In other words, the effective forceV is substantially constant for a given setting of the valve 49 and under the influence'of this force the piston will act as a falling body with constant acceleration and therefore with a progressively increasing velocity. By varying the opening' of the valve 49 this effective force can be varied and consequently the acceleration of the pislton and its resultant velocities can be varied.

The'cylinder `may be of any suitable construction and as shown is permanently closed at its lower end and at its upper end is rovided with the movable cover 65 here'- in efore referred to. 'The boss 63 on the table, and after this is of the record groove and when the stop 5T causes `cessation of movement ofthe plungcularterminal groove, the'styIus is raisedv from the record. The partsare then movedv back to` their initial position by anyyconvenient means, for example by a handle 7 attached to the frame supporting the turnone the parts .are y j lien in their' 'initial position by vdosing the valve 52.

It will be understood that the cylinder and plunger with the by-pass pipe 47 exemplify a weight motor with a liquid escapement, and that although for the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown the .same embodied in an apparatus for formspecific embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes I am not limited thereto and that within the scope of my invention wide deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Claims-- '1. In a sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet and a stylus for cutting the record groove, a support for said tablet and stylus permitting relative motions therebetween radially of said tablet for giving pitch to the reord groove, means for causing such relative motion, said means automatically causing such Amotion to increase at a constant rate for constantly increasing the pitch of sald grooveas said stylus cuts toward the axis of rotationl of said tablet ywithout interrupting the contact of said stylus with the record tablet.

2. In a sound recording apparatus, the combination withl a rotating record tablet -and a stylus for cutting the record groove, a

support for said tablet and stylus permitting relative motions therebetween radially of said tablet for giving pitch to the record groove, a vertically arranged cylinder containing a body of liquid. a weight constituting a piston for said cylinder connected for causing the relative motion between said tablet and stylus, a discharge conduit from the portion of said cylinderr below said weight, a regulatable valve in said discharge conduit for determining the speed of descent of said weight whereby the length of the record groove may be regulated, and a conduit for returning the fluid passing said valve to the cylinder portion above the weight for'causing said weight to act against a constant force whereby said weight will descend with substantially constant acceleration and progressively increasethe pitch of the record groove as the stylus cuts toward the axis of rotation of said tablet.

3. In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, and motor mechanism having` a Huid escapement for lcausing said relative motion.

4. In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, of supporting means for said record tablet ,support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, means for exert:

ing a force tending to cause said relativel motion, and a fluid escapement for controlling the application of' said force.`

5. In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a' rotating record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the recordgroove, means for exerting a force tending to cause said relative motion, a fluid escapement for controlling the application of said force, and mea-ns for regulating said escapement.

6. In sound recording apparatus, the com bination with a rotating record tablet support and a lst-ylus for cutting the record groove, of supporting moans for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, a weight motor for causing said relative motion, and a Huid escapement for said motor.

7 In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, a weight motor for causing said relative motion, a fluid escapement for said motor, and means for regulating sald escapement.

8. In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, a Weight for causing said relative motion, means for applying fluid pressure directly to saidweigl'it, and means for permitting the gradual escape of said fluid.

9. In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove. motor means including a relatively movable lcylinder and plunger for causing said relative motion, and means for said cylinder.

permitting the gradual escape of vluidvfrom 10. In sound recording apparatus, the

combination with a rotating record tablet member, said members being movable relatively to each other, means for utilizing the relative movement of said cylinder member' and plunger member for causing the relative motion between said record support and stylus, land a restricted discharge means for the contents of said cylinder member.

11. In sound recording' apparatus, the

combination withy a rotating' lrec'ordtablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, of supporting means for said record tablet support andstylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, a relatively movable cylinder 4member and plunger "member, said cylinder -member being vertically arranged and said plunger member being within said cylinder member, means for utilizing the relative movement of said members for causing the relative motion between said record tablet v support and stylus, and a. regulatable restricted discharge means for the'contents of saidv cylinder member.

12. In sound recording apparatus, the

` combination with a rotating record tablet support andastylus forv cutting the record groove, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting rela- Astricted discharge tive motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record lgroove, a vertically arranged cylinder, a plunger in said cylinder, means for utilizing the motion of said plunger for causing v'the relative motion between saidl record tablet support and stylus, and a refrom said cylinder beneath said plunger.

13. In soundl recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet support for a disk record and a stylus for cutting the record, of supportingmeans for said record tablet su port and stylus -permitting relative motion therebetween for 'giving pitch to the record groove, and molgiving pitch to the record groove, motor means for exerting a force tending to cause said relative movement, and iiuid escapemcnt means for controlling the applicatlon of said force and increasing said relative movement-as the stylus cuts toward the center of said record tablet.

l5. In sound recording apparatus, the

combination Witha rotating record tabletvl supportfor a disk record and as tylus for 'cutting the record, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, motor means Vfor causing said relative movement, escapement xeans for controlling said .relative movement, and. means dependent on the motion of said motor for increasing the relative movement as the stylus cuts toward the center of said record tablet.

16. In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet `support for a disk. record and astylus for cutting the record, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, motor mechanism for causing said relative movement, escapement means for said motor mechanism, and means for'increasing said relative motion as the stylus cuts toward the center of said record tablet.- 17. In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet support for a disk record and a stylus for getting the record',`of supporting means for 'said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion rtherebetween for giving pitch to the record groove, -motor means for causing said relative movement, said motor means comprising a relatively movable cylinder and plunger, a liquid in said cylinder, a discharge orifice for permittingl ldisplacement of`said liquid and escape thereof from said cylinder, and conduit means communicating with said orifice for so disposing the liquid displaced as tonaugvment the relative motion of said cylinder and plunger.

18. In combination with a rotating record tablet support for a disk record and a stylus for cutting the record, of supporting vmeans for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitchto the record groove, a verti- 1 cally arranged cylinder. a vplunger in said cylinder, a liquid in said cylinder beneath said plunger, conduit means for conveying liquid from beneath said plunger to the cylinderportion above .said plunger, and means for causing the motion of said plunger to impart relative motion to said record tablet support and stvlus. v

19. In sound recording apparatus, the combination with a rotating record tablet sound 'recording apparatus, the

sup ort for a disk record and a stylus for cutting the record, o su porting=means .for said. record supportV an stylus permitting relative motion therebetween for combination with a rotating record tablet support fora disk record anda stylus for cutting the record, of supporting means for said record tablet support and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween forv giving pitch to .the record groove, a vertically arranged cylinder, a plunger in sai-dv cylinder, a liquid in said cvlinder beneath said plunger, conduit means for conveying liquid from beneath said vplunger to the cyl inder portion above said' plunger, meank for adjustably restricting said conduit, an

means for causing the motion of said plunger to impart relative motion to said record tablet support and stylus.

21. The combination with a relative movable support for a sound iecording record tablet and stylus for cutting the record groove, of a vertically arranged cylinder, a plunger in said cylinder, a liquid beneath said plunger, ay by-pass conduit connecting opposite end port-ions of said cylinder, a valve in said conduit for regulating its effective cross sectional' area, and means for causing the relative movement between said stylus and record tablet support comprising a ligature for operatively connect-ing one of them to said plunger.

22. The combination with a relative movable support for a sound recording record tablet and stylus for cutting the record groove, of a vertically arranged cylinder, a plunger in said cylinder, a liquid beneath said plunger, a by-pass conduit connecting opposite end portions of said cylinder, a valve in said conduit for regulating its effective cross sectional area, a second valve in said conduit for blanking and substantially unrestrictedly opening said conduit, and meansv for causing the relative movement between said stylus and record tablet sup ort comprising a ligature for operative y connecting one of' them to saipl plunger. i

23. The combination with a relative movable support for a sound recording record' tablet and stylus for cutting the record groove, of a vertically arranged cylinder, a plunger in said cylinder, a liquidbeneath said plunger, a by-pass conduit connecting opposite end portions of said cylinder, a

iving' pitch to the record groove, a vertical y ar-v valve in said'conduit for regulating its ef` feotive cross sectional area, a second Vvalve in said conduit for blanking and substantially unrestrictedly opening said conduit, said second valve being between saidfirst Amentioned valve and the discharge end of' said conduit, and means for causing the relative movement between said stylus and record tablet support comprising a ligature for o eratively connecting one of them to said unger.

' 24. Thecombination with albodily mov' able record tablet support and a stationary stylus `for cutting the record groove, of driving means for rotating said record tabletsupport, said driving means permitting saidv bodily movement of said record tablet support, means tending to cause 'said-bodily movement of said record tablet support, and a liuid escapeinent for controlling said bodily movement.

25. The combinationl with a bodily movable record tablet support and a stationary stylus for cutting the record groove, of driving means for rotating said record tabletV support, said driving means permittingsaid bodily movement of said record tablet support, means vtending to cause said bodily movement of said record tablet support,

means opposing said bodily movement, and

a ligature for operatively connecting one of ily movement.

26.The combination with a bodily movable record tablet support and a stationary stylus for cutting the record groove, of driving means for rotating said record tablet support, said driving means including a driving belt having a tension device which erniits bodily movement of said record tabet support, and motor means including a weight and a liquid escapenient for causing bodily movement of said record tablet suppol-t.f v

27. The combination with a 'rotatable turntable for a record tablet and a station- 4ary stylus for cutting the record-groove, of a 28. The combination with a relatively movable record tablet support of a sound recording apparatus and a stylus for cutting the record groove, of a cylindeij, a` plunger in said cylinder for causing said relative movement, a by-pass conduit connecting the opposite endportions of saidlc'ylinder, saidV plunger having a passage opening on oppotrolling said passage.

cording a paratus and a stylus for cuttingthe recor oove,'of a cylinder, a plunger 1n said c inder and means cooperating therewith Y or causing the relative movement between said record tablet support and stylus, and means for^varying the weight of said plunger.

31. The combination with a relatively movable record tablet support o f a sound recording apparatus and a stylus for cutting the record roove, of a cylinder, a plunger in said cy inder and means cooperating therewith for causing the relative movement between said record support and stylus, and said lunger comprising a plurality of remova le weights. l

32. The combination with a relatively movable record tablet support of a sound recording apparatus and a stylus for cutting the record groove of a cylinder, a plunger in said c linder and means cooperating therewith or causing the relative movement between said record tablet support and stylus and said plunger comprising a plurality of removable weights each fitting the wall of said cylinder.

33. The combination with a relatively movable record tablet support of a sound recording apparatus and a stylus for cutting the record groove, a ligature for causing the relative movement between said record tablet support and stylus, removable wei hts suspended by said ligature, and a flui escapement for controlling the descent of said weights.

34. The combination with a relatively movable record tablet support of a sound recording apparatus and stylus for cutting the record groove, an expansible chamber having a movable wall and means cooperating therewith for causingl the relativeV movementv between said recordvtabletsupport and stylus, means.A tending tomove said wall, and a restricted vdischar e for the contents of said expansible cham er.y

35. The combination with .a relatively I movable record tabletvsup ort of a sound 'recording pparatus and sty us for cuttin the record oove, 'an '.expansible chamber y av-u mg a movable wall and means cooperating.

permitting the rate of` said motion to be instantly changed at any point during the cutting of said groove'ivithout interrupting the contact of said stylus with the record tablet.

37. In a sound recording-apparatus having a record tablet support andstylus for cutting the record groove, a mounting for said record tablet support and stylus pera5 mitting relative motion therebetween for giving pitch to said record groove, and means for causing said relative motion, a fluid escapeinent associated with said means, and valvular mechanism permitting the rate of said relative motion to be changed at any point during the cutting of the record groove without interrupting the contact of said st lus with the record tablet.

38. n a sound recording apparatus having a record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, feeding means for causing the stylus to give pitch to the record groove, and manually operated means for changing the rate of feeding at any point im during the cutting of said record groove" without interrupting the contact of said stylus with the record tablet. y

39. In a sound recording apparatus having a record tablet support and a stylus for 10;, cutting the record groove, feeding means for causing the stylus to give pitch to the record groove, said means automatically progressively-accelerating the rate of feeding and having manual of acceleration. 4:0.A In a sound recording apparatus having a record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, feeding means for causing the stylus to give pitch to the record groove, said means automatically progressively accelerating the rate of feeding in consonance with thel length of groove cut and havin manually operated means for changing t ie rate of acceleration.

41l In a sound recording apparatus havinga record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, feeding means for causingfthe stylus to give pitch to the recm'eans for changing the rate 110 Aord groove, and means for changing the rate of feedin at the will of the operator without changing the contact of said stylus :ut-ting the record groove, feeding means for causing the stylus to give pitch to the record groove, and means for changing the rate of feeding atthe will of the operator at any point during the cutting of the recordV groove without .interrupting the Contact of said .stylus with the record tablet.

43. In a sound recording apparatus, a relatively movable record tablet support and stylus for cutting the record groove, a ligature for actuating the relative movement between said record 'tablet support and stylus, and means for putting said ligature under tension.

44. In a sound recording apparatus, a

- relatively movable record tablet support and stylusfor cutting the record groove, a linfature for causing therelative movement between said record tablet support and stylus, means for putting saidY ligature under ten'- sion, and means for varying said tension at any point during the cutting of the record groove without interrupting the contact of said stylus with the record tablet.

. 45. In a sound recording apparatus, a relatively movable record tablet support and stylus for cutting the record groove, a liga--A ture for causing the relative movement between said record tablet support and stylus,

means for-putting said ligature under ten.

sion, and means for varying said tension at ille will of the operator.

46. In a sound recording apparatus, a relatively movable record-tablet support and stylus for cutting the record groove, a ligature for causing the relative movement be-v tween said record tablet support and stylus, means for putting said ligature under ten.- sion, and means for varying said tension at the will of the operator at any point during the cutting of therecord groove without interrupting the contact of said stylus withv the record. tablet.

47. The combination with a rotatably` mounted record tablet support, of a stylus for cutting the record groove, power means for rotating the.- record tablet support,`- and ing a force for causing relative movement laterally between said record tablet support and stylus.

49..In a sound recording apparatus having a record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, feeding means for causing the stylus to give pitch tothe record groove, and means for .increasing or diminishing at the will of the operator the pitch of the record groove while the stylus is in contact with the record tablet and cutting the record groove.

50. In a sound recording apparatus having a. record tablet support and a stylus for cutting the record groove, feeding means for causing the stylus to give pitch to the record groove, and meansv for changing at the lwill of the operator the pitch of the record groove While the stylus is in contact with the record tablet and cutting the record groove. i

51. In a sound recording apparatus, the combinationwith a` rotating record. tablet and stylus for cutting the record groove, -a support for said tablet and stylus permitting relative motion therebetween radially ofsaid tablet for givingv pitch to the record groove, means for causing the radial motion, said means acting automatically to increase the radial'motion at a constant rate as the groove cuts toward the axis of rotation of said record tablet, and said means comprising manually controlled means for materially increasing and then interrupting the ra` dial motion while the stylus is in contact with the record tablet. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciiication. 

